School board member collapses and throws flyer handed out by community activist

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – The dust has yet to settle after the turbulent search for Caddo Parish’s new superintendent.

After several school board meetings and a court hearing, the school board finally voted to name the only finalist, Keith Burton, as the next superintendent.

Keith Burton has 33 years of experience in education and currently serves as the Academic Director of Caddo Parish Schools.

Community member and activist Craig Lee remains perplexed by Caddo school board member Steve Umling’s reaction after Lee addressed the board on Wednesday, September 25.

Caught on camera, Umling can be seen throwing a ball of paper, which we now know was a document given to all board members by Lee, who plans to sue justice claiming the school board violated several federal and state laws, including Title 7. of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

After the incident, Shreveport police officers were on scene. Lee tells KSLA he filed a police report.

SPD officers were called to the scene after a contentious school board meeting Wednesday... — SPD officers were called to the scene after a contentious school board meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.(KSLA)

“It has nothing to do with children. This has nothing to do with our neighborhoods. This is really about imposing an agenda of favoritism, nepotism and cronyism on our citizens and we are not going to tolerate it,” Lee said.

KSLA contacted Umling Friday, who said he was not aware of any legal action filed against him.

We asked Umling what he thought about the superintendent selection process; he said the process went as planned.